Multiflash lamp



June 1, 1947. H. H. MAGDSM 2,422,428

IULTIFLASH LAMP Original Filed July 5, 1943 Q lnveni'or': 54 HHerber'l' Mqcglsick,

His A't't'ornes.

Patented June 17, 1947 2,422,428 MULTIFLASH LAMP Henry Herbert Magdsick asslgnor to General Ele ration of New York Original application Jul My invention relates object is to provide multiflash lamps for photographic purposes. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following detailed description of species thereof and from the appended claims.

In the drawing accompanying and forming part 01' this specification, species of my invention are shown in which Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view 01' one species of my multifiash lamp with a, portion of the lamp base broken away to show the stem portion of a bulb; Fig. 2 is a similar view of another species of mymultifl ash lamp; and Fig. 3 is a side-elevational, fragmentary view of a support carrying electrical contacts for the multiilash lamps shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Like reference numerals denote like parts in the figures.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the species of multiflash lamp 48 illustrated comprises a common base 4| circular in shape and of electrically insulating material, such as fiber, hard rubber, or an electrically insulating, moldable plastic, Said base 4| has a plurality of bulbs 42 permanently secured therein and projecting ramaterial, such as shredded foil (indicated by the light lines in the bulb the internal structure of which is shown in the drawing), and a supporter of combustion, such as oxygen. The combustible material, when ignited, produces a flash of actinic light and isignited by an ignition means comprising a tungsten filament connected across a pair of current inlead wires 43 and 44 sealed into the stem 45 of the bulbs 42. Such bulbs are dis closed in U. S. Patent cember 29, 1942, to Marvin Pipkin.

The inlead'wire 43 of each of the bulbs 42 is connected to a common, external, center ring contact 46 on the base 4|. A plurality of equally spaced contacts 41, one for each of the inleads 44, are disposed adjacent the peripheral portion of the base 4|. The centerportion of the base 4| has a passage therethrough defined by a metal tube 48 of double bore. The larger diameter portion of the tube 48 engages with the ring contact 46 on the base 4| and has a pair of diametrically opposed slots 48. A shoulder 50 is provided where the double-bore tube 48 changes in diameter.

The species of m'ultiflash lamp 40 illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing is similar 11 Fig. 1 except for the provision of a plurality If contacts 5| in place of the single, center ring to that shown to lamps and its principal ctric Company, a corpoy 493,519. Divided and this 21, 1944, Serial No. 523,23

5 Claims. (CI. 67-31) East Cleveland, Ohio,

5, 1943, Serial No. 7application February f 2' contact 46. The contacts 5| are disposed at equally spaced positions in a, ring around the center of the circular base' 4|. The double-bore tube 48 of this embodiment may consist of the a pair of contacts connected intoan electrical No. 2,306,563, issued Deniting the bulbs circuit comprising a power source capable of ig- 42. The holder 52 comprises a stationary sleeve 53 which accommodates a spinelectrically insulated from said sleeve 53 in Fig. 3 engages the ring contact 46 of the lamp shown in Fig. 1. Said contact 56 is large enough in diameter to engage contacts 5| of the lamp shown in Fig. 2 when said lamp is mounted on holder 52. The circular contact 56 rotates with spindle 54, is spaced from the contact 55 and is electrically insulated from the sleeve 53 by the perforated disc 51 of electrically insulat- The contact 56 has a central, cy-

(not shown) which engages with to the end portion of spindle 54. The said cylindrical portion of contact 56 is provided with a ridge-like protuberance which serves as a key engaging with' one of the slots 48 of the tube 48 of lamp base 4| to rotate the lamps 40 when the spindle 54 is rotated,

A lamp 40 is mounted on the lamp holder 52 by placing the portion of larger diameter of the tube 48 over the end of spindle 54 and wedge 58, moving the lamp base 4| longitudinally of spindle 54 said spindle 54 in the direction of contact 56 to compress wedges 58 and until the key enters a v contact 56 engages with the ring contact 46 or the contacts 5|, depending on which species of lamp 48 is being used. The may then be rotated to bring one of with the contact stationary sleeve 53 to connect a bulb 42 across said holder contacts 55 and 56.

of contact The contacts 55 and 56 may be connected through the sleeve 53 and the spindle 54, respectively, into a circuit including a source of electrical energy, Such as a conventional flashlight battery, capable of igniting the bulbs 42 when the circuit is closed by a conventional manual or automatic switch. A conventional slip-ring contact may be used for the rotatable spindle 54.

The holder 52 may be mounted on a support which grips the sleeve 53 to support the holder 52 in such position that the bulb 42 connected across the holder contacts 55 and 56 is in effective relation to a reflector for the actinic light emitted by the said bulb 42 when flashed. The spindle 54 may be equipped with a turnable means and an indexing apparatus for advancing and temporarily holding successive bulbs 42 in position to be flashed.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 493,519, filed July 5, 1943, now Patent Number 2,404,970, issued July 30, 1946, and which is assigned to the assignee of this application.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A multiflash lamp unit comprising a common base and a plurality of flash bulbs radially mounted in a common plane and recessed into said base and permanently secured therein, each of said bulbs having leading-in wires extending therefrom, said base having a plurality of spaced, electrical contacts connected to said wires and so arranged on said base that rotary displacement of said base in said common plane is effective for successively connecting said bulb t an energizing circuit for igniting said bulbs in sequence, said leading-in wires extending from said bulbs to their respective contacts and being connected directly thereto.

2. A multifiash lamp unit comprising a common cylindrical base having an end wall and an axial shaft-receiving passage, a pluralityof flash bulbs recessed into and permanently secured to said base and extending radially outward therefrom, each of said bulbs containing an ignition filament, contact means arranged annularly on the exterior surface of said end wall around said passage, and a plurality of contacts arranged in 9, circle on the said exterior surface of said end wall outside said annularly arranged contact means, with means electrically connecting one end of each of said filaments to said annularly arranged contact means, and means electrically connecting the other end of each of said filaments to one of the circularly arranged contacts.

3. A multiflash lamp unit comprising a common hollow cylindrical base shell having an end wall and an axial shaft-receiving passage, 9. plurality of flash bulbs recessed into and permanently secured to said base and extending radially outward therefrom, each of said bulbs having a pair of lead-in wires extending therefrom interiorly of the said base shell, contact means arranged annularly on the exterior surface of said end and a plurality of contacts on the said exterior surface of said end wall arranged concentrically with the first-mentioned contact means, one of the lead in wires of each of said flash bulbs extending directly to said first-mentioned contact means and being connected thereto, the other lead-in wire of each of said bulbs extending directly to one of the second-mentioned contacts and being connected thereto.

4. A multiflash lamp unit comprising a common hollow cylindrical base shell having an end wall and an axial shaft-receiving passage, a pluraiity of flash bulbs recessed into and permanently secured to said base and extending radially outward therefrom, each of said bulbs having a pair of lead-in wires extending therefrom interiorly of the said base shell, and two sets of separate contacts arranged concentrically on the exterior surface of said end wall around said passage, there being a pair of such contacts, one contact from each set, corresponding to each flash bulb, each of the lead-in wires of each flash bulb extending directly to one of the contacts of the corresponding pair of contacts and being connected thereto.

5. A multiflash lamp unit comprising a common cylindrical base of electrically insulating material having an axial shaft receiving passage, electric contacts arranged in spaced relation around said passage for successive engagements on rotation of said unit with stationary contact means of an electric ignition circuit for the lamps, and a plurality of flash bulbs recessed into and permanently secured to said base and extending radially outward therefrom, each of said bulbs having lead-in wires extending therefrom and into direct and permanent engagement with said base contacts for conducting current from said contacts to said lamps.

HENRY HERBERT MAGDSICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

